Topstep vs The5ers
On the numbers: The5ers pays the higher profit split; The5ers has the cheaper entry point; The5ers rates higher on Trustpilot. The right choice depends on which of those you weigh most - the rules, pricing and payout detail below is where they really separate.
At a glance
| Topstep | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| TradingBay Rating | 7.9 | 8.8 ★ |
| Category | Futures | Forex |
| Founded | 2012 | 2016 |
| Profit Split | 90% | Up to 100% ★ |
| Payout Cycle | Weekly | Bi-weekly |
| Account Sizes | $50K–$150K | $2.5K–$250K |
| Cheapest Challenge | $149 | $19 ★ |
| Platforms | TopstepX | MetaTrader 5 (Hedge), cTrader |
| Trustpilot | 3.7 | 4.7 ★ |
Which is cheaper at $50K and $100K?
Prices shown in each firm's own currency or billing model, so not every size has a like-for-like winner.
| Topstep | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| $50K account | $49/mo | $309 |
| $100K account | $99/mo | $545 |
Rules head-to-head
Drawdown type is the rule that catches most traders out - read it before the profit split.
| Topstep | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Rules grade | B - Simple core rule; payout caps and consistency gates add friction | B - Fair and transparent, but growth is gradual |
| Drawdown type | Trailing Maximum Loss Limit - the 'One Rule' ($2,000/$3,000/$4,500 for 50K/100K/150K); set at end of day from the balance high, locks once it reaches the starting balance ($0 after first funded payout) | Hyper/Pro Growth: 6% static stop-out from initial balance. High Stakes: 10% absolute max loss. Bootcamp: 5% max loss per step, 4% when funded. |
| Daily loss limit | Optional add-on at checkout ($1,000/$2,000/$3,000); hitting it blocks trading until next session but is not a rule break. Adding it (Responsible Trading Advantage) doubles XFA payout caps and discounts the subscription $10-$30/month | Hyper Growth: 3% daily pause (not a breach). Pro Growth: 3% daily loss = account termination. High Stakes: 5% daily (from higher of balance/equity at server midnight). Bootcamp: 3% daily pause on funded stage only. |
| Profit target | Combine: $3,000 (50K), $6,000 (100K), $9,000 (150K) | Hyper/Pro Growth: 10%. High Stakes: 10% then 5%; 10% per funded scaling step. Bootcamp: 6% per step, 5% per funded milestone. |
| Consistency rule | Combine: best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits. Express Funded Consistency payout path: largest day at or below 40% of total net profit | No fixed best-day percentage; profitable-day minimums serve the same purpose. |
| News trading | Permitted | Allowed; bracket strategies around high-impact news prohibited. High Stakes: no new orders within 2 minutes before/after high-impact news. |
| EAs / automation | Automation allowed with conditions; trade copiers permitted; no support or remediation for bot malfunctions | EAs allowed except tick-scalping, HFT, arbitrage, emulators, copy/coordinated trading - banned EAs void the account without refund. |
| Weekend holding | Not possible - positions must be flat by 3:10 PM CT daily; trading day runs 5:00 PM CT to 3:10 PM CT | Overnight and weekend holding allowed (indices carry very high weekend swaps). |
| Min trading days | None to pass the Combine (possible in as little as 2 days); funded payout eligibility needs 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 trading days (Consistency) | - |
| Time limit | No time limit; monthly subscription rebills until you pass or cancel, with a free reset credit on each rebill | Unlimited time to pass; accounts inactive for 30+ consecutive days expire. |
Payouts head-to-head
| Topstep | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Profit split (full terms) | 90/10 from the first dollar (accounts opened from 12 Jan 2026); members who joined earlier keep 100% of their first $10,000 lifetime profit | Starts at 50/50 (Hyper Growth, Bootcamp), 75/25 (Pro Growth) or 80/20 (High Stakes) and scales to 100% - top High Stakes tiers pay 100% plus $4,000-$10,000 fixed payouts |
| Payout frequency | On demand during CME market hours once eligible; XFA cycles need 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at <=40% consistency (Consistency); LFA unlocks daily payouts after 30 winning days | First payout 14 days after receiving the funded account, then every two weeks; the cycle resets each time the account scales |
| First payout | Funded traders can request a first payout in as little as 3 days (Consistency path); Standard path needs 5 winning days of $150+; no profit-since-last-payout requirement on the first payout | 14 days after the funded account is issued |
| Minimum payout | $125 | $150 (after profit split); crypto withdrawals capped at $1,500 per request |
| Scaling | Contract limits scale with account balance per the Scaling Plan; payouts that drop the balance to a lower tier reduce maximum contract size. Payout caps rise per request count is not used - instead LFA invitation removes caps entirely | Hyper Growth doubles the account at every 10% target up to $4M; Pro Growth scales incrementally to $500K; High Stakes scales 10% steps to $500K with split rising 80/20 to 100/0 + fixed payouts; Bootcamp scales every 5% up to $4M |
Who should choose which?
· You want to withdraw more often (Weekly vs Bi-weekly).
· You run EAs or automated strategies.
· You trade the news.
· You want the cheaper entry ($19 vs $149).
· The headline profit split matters most (100% vs 90%).
· You'd rather not trade under a consistency rule.
· You swing trade and hold over the weekend.
· Independent reputation matters to you (Trustpilot 4.7 vs 3.7).
Is Topstep better than The5ers?
It depends what you weigh: The5ers pays the higher profit split; The5ers has the cheaper entry point; The5ers rates higher on Trustpilot.
Which is cheaper, Topstep or The5ers?
The5ers has the lower-priced entry challenge ($19 vs $149).
Does Topstep or The5ers allow EAs?
Topstep: Automation allowed with conditions; trade copiers permitted; no support or remediation for bot malfunctions. The5ers: EAs allowed except tick-scalping, HFT, arbitrage, emulators, copy/coordinated trading - banned EAs void the account without refund..
Can US traders join Topstep or The5ers?
Topstep: yes, the US is not on its restricted list. The5ers: yes, the US is not on its restricted list.
Which pays out faster, Topstep or The5ers?
Topstep: On demand during CME market hours once eligible; XFA cycles need 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at <=40% consistency (Consistency); LFA unlocks daily payouts after 30 winning days. The5ers: First payout 14 days after receiving the funded account, then every two weeks; the cycle resets each time the account scales.
Terms last verified against each firm's own site: 2026-06-12 / 2026-06-12. How we rate.